Diary, October 1667 | Page 6

also come
this morning, and walked with me in the garden; and concluded not to
concern [himself] or have any advice made to Sir W. Coventry, in
behalf of my Lord Sandwich's business; so I do rest satisfied, though I
do think they are all mad, that they will judge Sir W. Coventry an
enemy, when he is indeed no such man to any body, but is severe and
just, as he ought to be, where he sees things ill done. At noon home,
and by coach to Temple Bar to a India shop, and there bought a gown
and sash, which cost me 26s., and so she [Mrs. Pepys] and Willet away
to the 'Change, and I to my Lord Crew, and there met my Lord
Hinchingbroke and Lady Jemimah, and there dined with them and my
Lord, where pretty merry, and after dinner my Lord Crew and
Hinchingbroke and myself went aside to discourse about my Lord
Sandwich's business, which is in a very ill state for want of money, and
so parted, and I to my tailor's, and there took up my wife and Willet,
who staid there for me, and to the Duke of York's playhouse, but the
house so full, it being a new play, "The Coffee House," that we could
not get in, and so to the King's house: and there, going in, met with
Knepp, and she took us up into the tireing-rooms: and to the women's
shift, where Nell was dressing herself, and was all unready, and is very
pretty, prettier than I thought. And so walked all up and down the
house above, and then below into the scene-room, and there sat down,
and she gave us fruit and here I read the questions to Knepp, while she
answered me, through all her part of "Flora's Figary's," which was
acted to-day. But, Lord! to see how they were both painted would make
a man mad, and did make me loath them; and what base company of
men comes among them, and how lewdly they talk! and how poor the
men are in clothes, and yet what a shew they make on the stage by
candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nell cursed, for having

so few people in the pit, was pretty; the other house carrying away all
the people at the new play, and is said, now-a-days, to have generally
most company, as being better players. By and by into the pit, and there
saw the play, which is pretty good, but my belly was full of what I had
seen in the house, and so, after the play done, away home, and there to
the writing my letters, and so home to supper and to bed.

6th (Lord's day). Up, and dressed myself, and so walked out with the
boy to Smithfield to Cow Lane, to Lincolne's, and there spoke with him,
and agreed upon the hour to-morrow, to set out towards Brampton; but
vexed that he is not likely to go himself, but sends another for him.
Here I took a hackney coach, and to White Hall, and there met Sir W.
Coventry, and discoursed with him, and then with my Lord Bruncker,
and many others, to end my matters in order to my going into the
country to-morrow for five or six days, which I have not done for
above three years. Walked with Creed into the Park a little, and at last
went into the Queen's side, and there saw the King and Queen, and saw
the ladies, in order to my hearing any news stirring to carry into the
country, but met with none, and so away home by coach, and there
dined, and W. How come to see me, and after dinner parted, and I to
my writing to my Lord Sandwich, which is the greatest business I have
to do before my going into the country, and in the evening to my office
to set matters to rights there, and being in the garden Sir W. Pen did
come to me, and fell to discourse about the business of "The Flying
Greyhound," wherein I was plain to him and he to me, and at last
concluded upon my writing a petition to the Duke of York for a certain
ship, The Maybolt Gallyott, and he offers to give me L300 for my
success, which, however, I would not oblige him to, but will see the
issue of it by fair play, and so I did presently draw a petition, which he
undertakes to proffer to the Duke of York, and solicit for me, and will
not seem to doubt of his success. So I wrote, and did give it him, and
left it with him, and so home to supper, where